Killing of Labrador brings indictment

A Randall County grand jury Wednesday indicted an Amarillo man on charges relating to the choking and stabbing death of a dog inside a home last month.

Clinton Ray Dunavan, 39, was indicted on a charge of cruelty to a non-livestock animal, a felony. Authorities on Wednesday still weren't clear on the motive.

Police say Dunavan is suspected of entering a home in the 4900 block of Pond Drive in Amarillo on Jan. 9 and attacking a Labrador retriever. At some point during the attack, Dunavan is alleged to have swung the dog into a wall and dumped its body on the owner's bed, police said.

The dog's owner came home Jan. 11 and discovered blood, police said. The owner found the dog's body inside a trash bin south of his home.

A warrant was issued for Dunavan's arrest shortly after the episode, but he remained at large Wednesday, jail officials said.

When police were called shortly after the dog's owner returned home, they reportedly found a knife in the home that they believe was used in the attack, officials said.

Police say Dunavan entered the home legally.

According to the criminal complaint, at the time, another man was inside the home and witnessed the attack. It wasn't clear Wednesday whether the man lived there and if he did anything to prevent the attack.